Imagine Online heads to the High Street

Ubisoft has released a physical starter pack for its browser-based game and popular girls' property Imagine Online.

This launched in France last week but will arrive in the UK and the rest of Europe next year.

It is priced at €14.99 and includes one-month diamond membership for the browser-based free-to-play title, along with exclusive in-game content.

Ubisoft’s digital publishing manager for EMEA Thomas Paincon told MCV:?“The goal of this starter pack is to benefit from the strength of retail and to encourage awareness of our free-to-play games. We want to include retailers in our digital strategy as there is an opportunity for them, even with digital-only titles.”

Ubisoft also plans to launch pre-paid cards at retail next year which will allow users to top up their in-game currency.

“These packs are also designed to provide a means of payment, especially for children who don’t have credit cards,” added Paincon.

The publisher has sold over 18m copies of Imagine games worldwide, which include Imagine Ballet Dancer and Imagine Beauty Stylist on DS. Imagine Online is currently in an open beta in French territories. It’s known as Imagine Town in the UK.

MCV is the leading trade news and community site for all professionals working within the UK and international video games market. It reaches everyone from store manager to CEO, covering the entire industry. MCV is published by NewBay Media, which specialises in entertainment, leisure and technology markets.